Tobacco smoke is very harmful to human health, and especially feline. Why? Because his body is much smaller than ours, so that with a minimal amount it is intoxicated and can make you sick.
If you are a smoker, you should know that tobacco smoke affects cats in a much worse way than in humans, so it is very important to prevent the furry from being exposed to it.
How does tobacco smoke affect cats?
Basically, in the same way as us, as the Dr. Carolynn MacAllister, Professor of the Veterinary Extension Service at Oklahoma State University (USA):
If smoking is harmful to humans, it makes sense that tobacco smoke would have an adverse effect on pets living with a smoker. Tobacco smoke has been linked to oral cancer and lymphoma in cats, nasal and lung cancer in dogs, as well as lung cancer in birds.
What is the harmful dose?
For cats, the toxic dose of nicotine is estimated to be 1-2mg per kilo of weight. An amount as low as 8mg / kg would be fatal to the animal. That is practically nothing. If you smoke a lot at home, it is too easy for cats to swallow that amount every day.
Why is it more harmful to cats than dogs?
The cat spends a lot of time grooming itself. Tobacco smoke is deposited on everything: on furniture, clothes, curtains ... and also on the cat's fur. This one, when licking, swallows toxins. The dog does not usually groom itself, so its health is not in such danger.
What are the symptoms or warning signs in cats to be aware of?
I am not a smoker, in fact I hate tobacco (I will not deny it), and besides I think I have an allergy to its smoke because every time I feel obliged to smell it I end up sneezing and itchy eyes. But my mother, for example, does smoke, and not a little. Although he is very careful not to do it at home (he goes outside, or at least he goes to a room upstairs and opens the window), the reality cannot be denied: the smoke or part of it enters the interior.
Smokers may not notice it, but non-smokers do. And the cats too. So, with the passage of time there are some symptoms that could begin to manifest themselves in felines and that should be of concern to us:
- cough
- sneeze
- nasal and eye discharge
- shortness of breath (possible asthma)
Obviously, a visit to the vet is mandatory.
Can anything be done so that cats are not affected by tobacco?
The most recommended for everyone, people and cats, is that smokers stop being smokers. It will not be an easy path, but of course you can always ask for professional help. If not, I know of people who have been able to leave it with gum, or even electronic cigarettes.
But meanwhile, it is very important to watch smoking outside the home. I repeat: the body of cats is small, the lungs too. It is very resistant, but against drugs it can do absolutely nothing, especially when it comes to a substance like smoke.
If that is not possible, or if the weather is bad, allocate a single room in the house for smoking, that it has a window so that it can be ventilated, and not let the cat enter there under any circumstances.
Does joint smoke affect cats?
Of course yes. What for you is fun, for cats is a very dangerous experience because of what we said before: their body is much smaller than that of a human.
In principle, if cats inhale the smoke occasionally from a puff, they could suffer throat irritation; but if it is followed, respiratory problems will appear, and even in very serious cases they could have cancer in the mouth or throat.
Tobacco, joints, ... drugs in general, are no joke. The further away they are from our furry companions, the better because this way we will contribute to making their life as long as it should be, and above all healthy. Taking this into account, it is highly recommended to stop smoking, or at least to do it outside the home so that our friend does not become a passive smoker. They are our responsibility. Therefore, it is necessary that we do everything possible to make them happy, because as members of the family that they are, they worry us (or should worry us).